October 2013 Blog Posts (80)

The following is a transcript taken from the LIVE members' chat hosted here at TheWildGeese.com on Thursday, October 31, 2013 with County Sligo historian and author (and fellow Wild Geese member), Joe McGowan. Joe's website and …

On 31 October (Halloween), 1973, the IRA used a hijacked helicopter to free three of its members from Mountjoy Jail in Dublin. Below is a video clip from RTÉ's archives which shows the footage from the aftermath of this daring escape:

As any Irish history enthusiast will know, 2013 marks the centenary of a very significant year in the Irish fight for independence - and the next ten years will provide many more milestones to commemorate. The years 1913-23 in Ireland saw the Dublin Lockout, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, and the Civil War. By the end of this tumultuous decade, Ireland would be a fledgling Free State, and the…

The Halloween 'Legend of Loftus Hall Experience Tour for Adults Only' has been sold out for months! Having a wine and tapas bar and reserved table for after the tour had added to the value of this creative endeavour of the Hall's new owners.

The greatest censorship that happened in Ireland was during the seventies when the FIanna Fail government brought in Section 31 which forbade republicans from having access to the media. In the eighties the coalition of Fine Gael and Labour took it a step further forbidding Sinn Fein members from talking about everything including gardening in the media. The act was repealed in the nineties as part of the peace process. It is worth noting that at height of apartheid in South Africa, de…

Many workers in our Country are very tired of the anti-worker, anti-union radical right who are trying to eliminate our middle class. On Nov. 9th, we are having a Rally in front of the Courthouse in Pottsville Pa., County Schuylkill. Why is this place so important? On June 21st, 1877, 6 men were hanged at the prison in back of the Courthouse and on the same day 4 were hanged in Carbon County. All were AOH members accused of being involved in muders. These men were branded as belonging to a…

Tom McElligott in his book on handball devoted two sections to Ballymore Eustace players. Tom is now deceased. The late Mickey Dowling of Barrack St. was one of the two Ballymore Eustace players to receive a…

Hey there all. Since my trip to Ireland with The Waterford Gathering this June past, I have been smitten with the place and have taken even more of an interest in all things Irish! I have even written a poem which although personal, I would like to have critiqued by someone literary. I am a complete amateur so don't expect anything amazing ; ) Would anyone here be willing to give it a go? Warning! - I am very sensitive so go easy on me as it is only meant to be personal, well, at least for…